02-November-2012
Europa Hotel, Belfast
Northern Ireland

Shana Morrison

Our roving Van fan Brendan sent in this review
Having witnessed the magnificent Sligo concert 5 days earlier, I had no real expectation that this intimate concert could scale such heights but incredibly it ran it pretty close. Apart from the brilliant music, what made this concert really unique was Van’s rapport with the audience throughout the show. It was clear that he really relished playing in his hometown and I have never seen him so relaxed and in such good humour.

Photo via Pablo

The concert (predictably) started 20 minutes early when Shana Morrison took the stage to provide a short but enjoyable set as the diners nearly choked trying to finish their dinners and desserts before Van arrived on stage.

After opening with A Town Called Paradise, Van told us we would never hear that song on the radio. He then introduced Thanks For The Information (which was tremendous-particularly the guitar and brass) and told us we would NEVER hear that on radio as he reckoned it was too subversive. The Drumshambo Hustle was one we might hear as he knew it had been played at least once and credited Irish TV/Radio presenter Marty Whelan. Van told us a lot of the material tonight would be drawn from the No Guru album which was certainly music to my ears. Throughout the evening Van joked with the band and audience and invited requests,asking the audience to tell him what we wanted as that’s what he was there for! At one stage he asked if there were any actors in the audience “apart from the cowboys!”

Musically,there were many highlights including a superb Foreign Window,the afore mentioned Thanks For The Information, The Warm Feeling, That’s Life, a brilliant duet with Shana on Sometimes we Cry (it gets more powerful all the time) before a real gem was produced-a near 10 minute version of Pagan Heart which proved a real show stopper. Crazy Love, Ballerina (during which Van reckoned a superb trombone solo had to be OMG) and another duet with Shana on Whenever God (Cliff) Shines his Light took us nicely towards the finish which involved a thunderous version of Help Me with Van leaving the stage chanting “Its too good to stop now!”.

It certainly is Van !
-Brendan Hynes


Setlist (Thanks John M)
A Town Called Paradise
Thanks For The Information
Drumshanbo Hustle
Open The Door (To Your Heart)
Sometimes We Cry
Got To Go Back
Who Can I Turn To
That's Life
Oh The Warm Feeling
These Are The Days
Foreign Window
Whenever God Shines His Light
Pagan Heart
Moondance
Crazy Love
Ballerina
Help Me

Shana Morrison Setlist (Thanks Pablo)
God Must Love Me
Roses
I Am A Rose
Your Love Keep Lifting Me Higher